Originally Posted by
N2Core
DAL was gonna park those 50 seaters anyway. I'm pretty sure that they were gonna get the 717's anyway too. The only thing this contract accomplished scope-wise was added larger regional jets to regionals. Hardly a win.
Actually, DL was not going to get the 717s if the TA didn't pass. They had two business plans, one with, one without. If the TA had been voted down, they would have gone with the 717less plan.
As for the 50s going away, yes they were. However, the 717less plan called for a more gradual drawdown over the next few years, not the wholesale slash and burn going on now. Had the TA been voted down, Comair would still be around for the time being. While they were certainly on life support, they would still be flying 50s for a few years.